CHAPTER VI
VIVA, CUBA LIBRE!
Although used to the eccentricities of costume in which the captainindulged, Harry was not prepared for the formal gentleman who greetedthem as they entered the cabin that night.
Captain Dynamite was in full evening dress, and Harry could not helpthinking how well he looked with his big, athletic form draped inconventional attire. But he had not looked for such dress on shipboard,or at least on a ship of the mysterious character of the _Mariella_.
"Welcome to our little dinner party," said the captain, solemnly, as heshook each boy by the hand and pointed to seats on the big divan. "Thisis the first time that strangers have graced our board on this occasion.I hope it portends a successful ending to our voyage."
"We certainly hope so too, captain. We should be very sorry to feel thatour presence on your steamer might cause trouble to you."
"O, one never knows what the morrow may bring. This is our farewellnight. To-morrow we enter the zone of danger. But to-night we will bemerry. Is not that an excellent idea?"
"The idea is all right, captain, but where is the danger?"
"Ah, that you may know to-morrow."
"All right, cap," said Mason, carelessly throwing one leg over the otherand thrusting his thumbs into the armholes of his vest, "we'll stick toyou."
"I believe you will, boys, but it will be my care to keep you free fromharm if possible. That is one reason why I have made so much of amystery to you of the voyage of the _Mariella_. Whatever may befall usyou will have had no part in the purpose of this voyage, and remember,above all things, that you are American citizens. There are Americanconsuls in every port and Uncle Sam will take care of his own, perhapsnot with the alacrity that we sometimes could wish for, but in duecourse of time. So shout loudly for Uncle Sam if you need him and if hedoes not hear you, don't forget that John Bull speaks your language."
The boys were puzzled by the captain's speech, but they knew him wellenough to realize that it would be useless to question him. At thispoint the mate entered the cabin. His appearance was so odd that Berthad to hide his face behind his handkerchief to laugh. His expressionwas as solemn as the captain's. He wore a pair of blue pilot clothtrousers, a vest with brass buttons and an old-fashioned swallow-tailedcoat. The trousers, which were badly creased and puckered from longservice inside the tops of his sea boots, were now pulled down outside,but the wide tops of the boots showed in a ring at the knee.
The captain greeted him in the same dignified way that he had receivedthe boys, and he gravely took a seat on the divan beside them. The nextto put in an appearance was the engineer, who wore his service uniform.The second mate was the last to arrive. He was dressed in blue flannelvest and trousers and a Tuxedo coat. Notwithstanding his own almostfaultless attire, the captain did not seem to notice the neglige of hismen. He greeted each warmly and in the same sober manner. When they hadall assembled, he rang a bell and the steward promptly responded.
"You may serve dinner," he said. "There are seven at table to-night."
"A fair prospect for a good run to-morrow, captain," said Suarez,rubbing his hands with the air of one who looked forward with pleasureto a coming event.
"Sure one never knows what the daylight will show," answered thecaptain, with a touch of his brogue. "We may find ourselves in the verydivil of a hornets' nest when the sun shows over the horizon. But Suary,me boy, we have pulled together out of many a bad hole, haven't we, oldman, and we are ready for another, eh?"
"The captain knows he can count on me when there is any fighting to bedone in the good cause."
"Fighting, eh," whispered Bert to Harry. "What do you suppose thesequeer guys are talking about?"
"I think I begin to have a small notion."
"What do you divine, most noble chief?"
"I do not think it would be wise to say until I am surer of my facts."
"And do your suspicions point to some dreadful mystery of the deep?"whispered Mason, with mock fear, while his mischievous eyes sparkledwith fun.
"Something perhaps a little more serious than we have been mixed up inbefore, if I am right."
"Really."
"As serious as powder and bullets can be."
"Powder and bullets," repeated Bert in some alarm. "What do you mean,Hal?"
"I tell you I cannot speak until I am surer of my ground. You know Imade an expedition into the hold to-day while the hatches were open."
"Yes, but you did not tell us that anything that you saw there was atall suspicious."
"I do not know that it is, but I can tell you this: instead of carryinga general cargo of merchandise for trading purposes, as we are supposedto do, we are loaded to the gunwales with guns and ammunition."
"Well, guns and ammunition are perfectly legitimate articles ofmerchandise."
"That all depends upon where and for what purpose they are shipped."
"What do you mean?"
"If two nations are at war and a nation supposed to be friendly to eachshould send arms and ammunition to one or the other, it would be aviolation of international law, and would be looked upon as an act ofwar on the part of the friendly nation."
"But suppose the nation had nothing to do with it and that the cargo wasshipped by individuals who were in sympathy with the cause of one or theother?"
"The friendly nation is supposed to see to it that no such cargo isshipped from its shores, and the vessel undertaking such a task ranks asa pirate and is called a filibuster."
"But there are no two nations now at war, so that theory cannot holdgood."
"There are no two nations at war, but there is a nation that has had onits hands for many years a warfare within its own borders as CaptainDynamite told us very entertainingly to-day."
"O, Cuba?"
"Yes, Cuba."
"And do you think that Captain Dynamite is one of those buccaneers thathe told us about?"
"Let us wait and see."
"Say, but that would be fine, wouldn't it, Hal?"
"You might not think it so fine if a Spanish warship should open fire onus."
"But we will not mix up in their quarrel."
"No, but a Spanish gunboat would mix it up with us very quickly if shesaw us first."
"What right would she have to interfere with a ship flying the Americanflag?"
"If we could not give a proper account of ourselves in her waters shewould stand on very little ceremony."
"And do you think we are likely to get mixed up in any real fightingwith real powder and bullets?" asked Bert, in some dismay.
"I don't know. Look out, the captain is watching us."
"Gee," whispered Mason, "I wish I was back in Cottage City."
Captain Dynamite, who had been talking with his officers while the boysdiscussed their situation in whispers, now looked over at themcuriously. Harry did not care at present to have to explain hissuspicions. At this moment, fortunately, the steward entered with thesoup and created a diversion. Captain Dynamite rose, and waving his armtoward the table, said:
"Gentlemen, dinner is served. Let us be seated."
The captain took his place at the head of the table, and his men groupedthemselves around him while the boys found seats near the bottom andfacing all. It was certainly a curious gathering for a dinner table: thefour bronzed, earnest-faced men at one end of the table and the threefresh-faced, wondering youngsters at the other. For a moment there was adeep silence, and Bert leaned over to Harry and whispered:
"Say, Hal, I feel as if something ought to explode, or the captain oughtto break out the black flag. This atmosphere is getting too tense forme."
"'Sh, keep quiet," said Mason, "don't you see old Dynamite is going tosay something? Perhaps he may let us into his secret. He seems to befeeling pretty good natured."
"Gentlemen," said the captain, rising at his seat, "fill your glasses."
As he spoke, he passed a black bottle that stood at his right hand tothe mate, who filled his glass and passed the bo
ttle on to theengineer.
"There is lemonade in that pitcher at your hand, youngsters," said thecaptain. "Fill your glasses."
The boys did as directed and the captain raised his glass of grog highin air. His men rose silently from their seats and did likewise.
"Here's to the good cause and confusion to its enemies," he said, in adeep voice.
"Good luck to the cause," shouted the men as they dashed off theirliquor and sat solemnly down again.
For half an hour scarcely a word was spoken, as they all did fulljustice to the cook's excellent dinner. When they were through, thesteward removed the cloth and the captain brought out a box of cigarswhich he passed around, this time not overlooking the boys, but theyeach refused, with thanks. The steward replaced the black bottle and itmade another circuit of the table. After a short silence, during whichthe men puffed vigorously on their cigars, the captain said quietly:
"Men, to-morrow we begin to get busy. You all know what dangers we arefacing and you have all been through them before. I know you will acquityourselves well if it comes to a tight rub, for your hearts are allwith the cause. That we may all know to what end to bend our individualendeavors, and in case anything should happen to any of us, I will nowread to you the orders under which we are sailing. Always remember ourcompact. We have our numbers. If number one falls, number two takescommand, and to him you give your true allegiance, always with yourminds free from personal ambitions and petty jealousies, working only ashuman machines for the good of the cause."
The men turned and looked nervously in the direction of the boys. Thecaptain noticed their suspicious glances.
"Do not fear," he said, addressing particularly the furtive-eyed Suarez,"I will answer for them. They are my guests."
There was in the captain's tone just a touch of defiance, as if hechallenged opposition to his views.
"Now listen, and mark well the directions in the order. It is inSpanish, but I will read it to you in English, as I believe none amongyou, save Suarez and myself, understand Spanish."
The captain produced from a large wallet a paper which he read slowly,dwelling long upon those passages containing detailed instructions:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT AT CUBITAS.
TO CAPTAIN DYNAMITE, Boston, Massachusetts, U. S. A.
GREETING: When, with the assistance of a power higher than mortal endeavor, you shall have safely brought your expedition within the lines of the enemy's ships, proceed with all possible dispatch to that point on the coast mutually agreed upon by us at our last meeting. There, should a kind and just Providence so will it, you will find your landing covered by five hundred men under Captain Morgan, who is your friend. From him you will receive any necessary further instructions. May our just cause shield you from harm and bring you safely through your dangerous mission to the arms of your friends who kiss your hand.
(Signed) BETANCOURT. GOMEZ.
"You know those names, my friends," said Dynamite, after reading theorder. "In their name and in ours, out of the fullness of our hearts, Igive you our toast--Viva Cuba Libre!"
The men sprang to their feet and raising their glasses while their eyesshone with the fever of excitement, shouted:
"Viva, viva, Cuba libre!"
"I thought so," said Harry, as the sound died away.
"What does that lingo mean?" asked Bert.
"It means 'hurrah for free Cuba,'" answered Harry.
A Voyage with Captain Dynamite Page 6
